Third-rail support.



J. [2. McGOVERN & M. COHEN.

THIRD RAIL SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30,1915

1,1617%. Patented Jan. 11, 1911;.

' WEQL 4/ P WITNESSES: 0 W'lgIg ENTORS RNEY *UNTTTE s ranr *rrrcn sonar 0. Mesovnrtiv Elk-ND MELIIIE con-En, or scorn sA-iv FRANCISCO, "CALIFORNIA.

THIRD-RAIL SUPP ORT.

Application filed June 30, 1915.

1 b all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN C. MoGovERN and MELLIE COHEN, citizens of the United States, residing at South San Francisco, in the county of San Mateo and State of Cali fornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Third-Rail Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a third rail support.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of third rail support for supplying current to electrically operated railways and the like.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a cross section of one of the main track rails, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same, partly broken away.

The main purpose of the present invention is to dispense with the overhead wires and third rails now in common use on electrically operated railways and particularly the supporting post used in connection therewith. This is accomplished by providing a third rail 2 which runs parallel with the main track rails of the road. One of the main track rails, such as indicated at 3, is provided with a continuous, outwardly extending, angular shaped support 4, below which the third rail 2 is supported.

The third rail is attached to the main rail at spaced intervals by means of a pair of clips 5 which are secured to a porcelain insulator 6 bymeans of a bolt 7. This insulator is in turn secured to the support f by means of a U-bolt 8 which is insulated from the support and rail by means of plates 9 which are constructed of fiber, hard rubber, or other similar material. The support, consisting of the U-bolt 8, clips 5 and connected insulator, is attached to the member 4: at spaced intervals of a few feet. The third rail is in this manner rigidly secured and at the same time insulated from the main rail. The downwardly extending side Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 191%. Serial No. 37,291.

10 of the support forms a guard or cover for the third rail which prevents accidental contact with same by pedestrians or anything crossing the main trackway.

Any suitable form of contact shoe, such as indicated at 11, may be provided for the purpose of conducting the current from the third rail to the motor of the car. This, however, does not form any part of the present invention.

The third rail support constructed as here shown is very economical in installation as the posts or brackets which are commonly emploved are entirely eliminated. The rail is, furthermore, completely covered against accidental contact and is at the same time protected from rain and weather conditions in general. Any chance of a short circuit between the main rail and the third rail is thus eliminated and a higher tensioned current may thus be employed.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

e wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described our what we claim and ters Patent is 1. A device of the character described, comprising a main rail having a continuous angular shaped, outwardly extending flange formed on one side, a plurality of clownwardly extending U-bolts secured in and insulated from the angular shaped flange, a spool-shaped insulator secured in each U-bolt, a clip secured to each spool-shaped insulator, and a third rail carried by said clips.

2. A third rail support and protector, including a main rail having a continuous flange projecting outwardly and downwardly integral with the rail, and forming a housing closed from above, openings at invention, desire to secure by Letintervals through said flange, insulating set our hands in the presence of two subplates closing said openlngs, insulators sescrlbing wltnesses.

cured beneath said plates, clips extending JOHN C. MGGOVERN. downward from said insulators, and a con- MELLIE COHEN. 5 ducting rail held and suspended by said Witnesses:

clips within the housing. GEO. A. KNEEsE, In testimony whereof we have hereunto DANIEL J LYNCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

